The Chairman’s Special Train was not hauled by The Duke over Shap on 10th October due to a caprotti valve ceasing around Lancaster. Perhaps the engineers felt cheated that The Duke didn’t get a run over Shap which would be the ultimate test for a newly-overhauled express passenger locomotive. For on 21st October an Instagram post announced The Royal Scot will be running on 6th November with tickets being very reasonably priced.
All tickets were sold within 48 hours of going on sale – such is the pulling power (love this pun) of The Duke.
Fortunately, the West Coast Main Line was re-opened, after a landslip and derailment, in time for our locomotive to have this run at Shap. This was the first time The Duke had been up Shap in 18 years the last being on 7th June 2007. The appearance of The Duke at Carlisle after such an extended period brought out onlookers in such numbers that Platform 4 had to be closed by the British Transport Police.
"The 6 November run from Crewe to Carlisle went faultlessly. It was his first run over Shap following the completion of his latest overhaul which included the modifications that were carried out that we believed Riddles would have done had he been allowed the time on his prototype of a class of 50. Instead, as we all now know, The Duke was sent for scrapping as the only unfinished prototype before he had the chance to correct the faults that had became apparent.
The performance on this run certainly showed what a capable Locomotive he now is. The smiles on the faces of both the Driver and Fireman on arrival at Carlisle along with their comments that it is an excellent performing locomotive, said it all. The Duke passed through Tebay at 80mph and the summit of Shap at 48mph with a load of 10 coaches and no Diesel assistance on the back. During the climb the coal pusher was used and he still blew off at the safety valves. During servicing at Carlisle one of the engineers said he couldn’t stop him blowing off and jokingly said - he thought the only way would be to put the fire out.
The return trip was equally faultless and early indications show that his water and coal consumption has improved, but we shall have much better analysis when he has done many more trips starting with his pre-Christmas runs. We are all delighted with at long last getting him back where he belongs hauling passenger trains on the mainline. We have now started various initiatives to raise the required significant funds to ensure his future and our loyal and generous family members have been superb, in this respect as they have always been, but we need more members to ensure a strong steady income of funds and new members to The Duke Family will be made very welcome."
To view the ‘Attach on Shap’ video playlist click here.
To see where The Duke will be running please visit our Where & When page.
The Duke at Carlisle (Platform 4) after climbing Shap
on 6 November 2025 for the first time in 18 years.
Photo: BRC8SLT – Phil Sanderson